Big Rally Helps Cowgirls Top Lobos, 69-66 [VIDEOS]

Taylor Rusk scored a career-high 21 points and led a Wyoming comeback, as the Cowgirls beat New Mexico 69-66 Tuesday night.

Wyoming rallied from down 17 in the first half and won a game at the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas for the first time since 2015.

(To view video highlights of the game, scroll down on the right side of the video player above and choose the next file)

Rusk scored 15 of her 21 in the second half. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Natalie Baker added 14 points and eight boards, while Marta Gomez contributed 13 off the bench, all in the second half.

A 13-0 run late in the first half put the Lobos ahead 33-16. It was 33-18 at halftime after a basket by Baker ended a five-minute drought by UW.

Wyoming scored the first seven points of the second half and pulled within eight, at 33-25. New Mexico pushed the lead back to double figures a few times before another Cowgirl surge. Nine straight by UW cut it to 39-38 with 3:06 left in the third.

The Cowgirls took their first lead since a 2-0 score with 30 seconds left in the third. Liv Roberts converted a three-point play, which put Wyoming ahead 43-42. New Mexico held a 45-43 lead early in the fourth, when UW went on a 7-0 spurt.

Rusk and Gomez knocked down key three pointers in the final 2:10 that helped the Cowgirls preserve a six-point advantage. Free throws by Gomez, Baker and Clara Tapia in the last 30 seconds sealed it for Wyoming.

The Lobos had a shot to tie it with 3.3 seconds left, but Tesha Buck’s three only hit the backboard as time expired.

Wyoming (21-9) shot 41.5 percent from the field. They were 22-27, 81.5 percent, at the foul line. The Cowgirls also had a 39-35 edge on the glass.

New Mexico (23-10) was led by Jaisa Nunn with 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Lobos shot only 35.5 percent from the field.